I place primary blame on the design of the pitot tubes (a dumb instrument) over the automated controls or human pilots. Better, more advanced positioning systems on commercial planes could relegate pitot tubes largely to emergency backup only, instead of primary flight instrumentation.

Automated controls allow for level, smooth flights that arrive on time and on budget (fuel consumption). Without increasingly more advanced systems like those rolling out, it will be impossible to scale air travel to needed volumes in the future. For example, updating and automating (to a large extent) air traffic…

The skills needed to operate advanced equipment is rapidly being reduced. To call this a bad thing (not to put words in your mouth) is simplistic and misguided. Do we need better training? Maybe. But there is also no way to avoid the ever increasing role of automation in our lives.

Human comfort is a necessity in commercial air travel, correct?

The complexity of the system has greatly increased. Increased complexity requires increased computer control. You can't just look at the physical outward design (two wings, engines, oval windows, Yada Yada) and say that planes developed recently (A380, 787) are comparable to planes of older generations (737, A320).…

The key term is "automated systems". It's more than just autopilot. That's actually the easiest part.

ESPN needs to do this for every game that Dickie V covers for my team, so that I can finally stop muting the tv in lieu of the radio play-by-play.

Ever heard of this? http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly-by-wi…

A lot of modern planes require advanced computer controls because the aerodynamics are too complex. While not directly related, many advanced military craft require computers to constantly adjust trim, pitch, yaw, and propulsion bc without it, the plane would fall from the sky.

No mention of touchscreen responsiveness? this is an important aspect of the display, and Apple beats Amazon and Google's offerings by a considerable amount.

PrimeSense was used for Kinect 1.0. Microsoft developed Kinect 2.0 on their own. Now, it's possible that they still license tech for this version.

I didn't state it was better. The intention of my point was to counter the OP's statement that Google was making Apple irrelevant in certain areas, including Maps.

I'm not sure how using facts and gathered data to support one's position makes somebody a fanboy.

Does Apple make any apps for Android? Why would they?

Well, you stated it has rendered Apple's services irrelevant. It's a matter of preference, IMO. In my area, I am able to more quickly and easily find addresses and routing information with Apple Maps. I prefer the UI over Google Maps.

A recent report showed that Apple Maps is the most used iOS navigation app, surpassing Google Maps.

Mainly internet browsing and app usage on my couch. I've also thought about getting a chromebook.

I'm going to give my iPad mini to my two nieces for Christmas, so I'm trying to decide between an Retina mini or an Air. Ugh. I have a feeling it is going to be a gut, impulse decision when I am in the Apple Store next week.

You realize there are good, free calculators in the App Store, right?

I don't care that you're kidding. You should be tarred and feathered for giving the NCAA ideas.